Roos refuses to surrender draft picks to secure homesick Davis

Although homesick Collingwood forward Nick Davis fits Paul Roos's criteria for potential recruits, the Sydney coach is adamant the Swans will not give up high draft picks to sign him.

The out-of-contract Davis has told Collingwood he wants to return to Sydney, from where the Magpies recruited him under the father-son rule in 1998.

But the Swans deny they played a part in Davis's decision.

"It came as a shock to us," Roos said yesterday. "I haven't had any recent contact with him and right now I'm at the [National Australian Football League] draft camp looking at kids."

Roos said Davis would be a handy addition to his list - if a suitable trade could be arranged.");document.write("

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"He's a very good half-forward, he's still pretty young [22] and he's from Sydney, so he fits some of the criteria we would want in a recruit," he said. "But whether it's Wayne Carey, Michael Voss or Nick Davis, first you have to get the trade done."

Collingwood have already indicated they would require at least a first-round draft pick in exchange for Davis.

Yet, Roos said the Swans would take both their first two picks in the draft (numbers seven and 23 overall) and were also unlikely to trade experienced players.

"Having lost [Paul] Kelly, [Andrew] Dunkley, [Tony] Lockett and [Wayne] Schwass, we've already shed a fair bit of experience and while we're looking at developing a young list, you can't go too far," he said. "As a general philosophy, it would be nice to keep the basis of the team that finished off the last 10 weeks pretty well and build on that."

If Collingwood and the Swans cannot arrange a trade, the only alternative for Davis would be to nominate for the pre-season draft. That, though, would be unlikely to get him north, given Carlton, St Kilda, Richmond, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs will all make draft picks before Sydney.

Davis has often spoken of his desire to return to Sydney where his father Craig works in development with the AFL NSW/ACT Commission.

While he is a gifted and dangerous forward, Davis's season was badly disrupted by a groin injury and he performed poorly in the Magpies' grand final loss to Brisbane.

The Swans will delist injury plagued defender Heath James.

The talented 22 year-old was seen as a potential successor to full-back Dunkley after he made an encouraging debut in 1998. But he was restricted to just five games in as many seasons by chronic hamstring injuries, and then suffered a major knee injury this year.

"I told Heath yesterday what we would be doing," Roos said. "But he's still young enough, potentially, to be on the rookie list and there still might be some way of keeping him involved."

With five retirements and James delisted, the Swans are unlikely to cut deeply into their list, despite last season's disappointing performance.

Already they have the space to take five picks from what is generally considered a mediocre national draft.

The Swans will have one less home game next year, with the return match against the Kangaroos to be played in Canberra.

Other highlights for Sydney in the AFL draw, released yesterday, were confirmation of a twilight Anzac Day match against Melbourne at the SCG, three home games at the Olympic stadium, against Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood, and just six Sunday afternoon games to avoid the unpopular 1.10pm starting time.

The Swans official pre-season campaign will start at the Olympic stadium against back-to-back premiers Brisbane on Saturday, February 22.

They begin the season proper against Carlton at the same venue on Saturday, March 29.